Lighting fixture with detachable light control panel



Marh 1952 w. w. STUBBS LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH DETACHABLE LIGHT CONTROL PANEL Filed Jan. 8, L949 INVENTOR WALTER W. STUBBS Patented Mar. 4, 1952 LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH DETACHABLE LIGHT CONTROL PANEL Walter W. Stubbs, Irwin, Pa., assig'nor to Pittsburgh Reflector Gompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 8, 1949, Serial No. 69,866

Claims. (Cl. 240-51.11)

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to a lighting fixture with a detachable panel located adjacent the bottom of the fixture so that the panel can be swung to a position to give access to the interior of the fixture for inspection, cleaning or removal of parts. If desired, the panel can be completely removed from the fixture to give access to the interior thereof. When in operative position the detachable panel reduces glare from the source of illumination, such as one or more fluorescent lamps.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention- Figure 1 is a transverse section through the lighting fixture, the detachable light control panel being shown in dotted lines in its inoperative or open position;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view showing a portion of the panel frame and one of the latches carried thereby;

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section taken through the fixture on the line III-J11 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a broken transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of the detachable light control panel; and

Figure 5 is a partial plan view and a partial section showing the manner of detachably connecting the panel to the fixture end member.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the lighting fixture comprises an elongated base plate 2 located at the top of the fixture and adapted to be connected to any suitable support not shown. The fixture can be supported by relatively long rods so that it is spaced a considerable distance below the supporting surface, or it can be located in a recess in the supporting surface by relatively short rods. The elongated base plate 2 extends the full length of the fixture and at each end has secured thereto a transverse, downwardly extending end member 3. Transverse straps 4 are secured to the base plate 2 and in turn support a reflector 5 which is trough shaped in transverse section, as shown in Figure 1. Lamp holders or'sockets B are secured to the straps 4, the sockets accommodating fiourescent lamps 1 which extend longitudinally of the fixture.

The fixture has two side panels 8 which are made of translucent plastic or other glare controlling material, these panels being supported in side frames 9. The lower ends of the side frames are curved inwardly to provide a central longitudinal opening extending substantially the full length of the fixture. The light control 2 panel, indicated generally by the reference numeral I0, fits into this opening which is located below the lamps I. The end members 3 together with the side panels 8 and frames 9 form an enclosure having a longitudinal opening into which the light control panel l0 fits.

The light control panel comprises a plate ll of translucent glass mounted in a frame. The frame comprises two side members 121a and HI) formed of channels and two end members [3 formed of angles. An angle member is located inside of each of the channel members I'Za and 12b in such position as to secure the plate II in the frame. Each of the panel frame end members l3 has a vertical flange l3a and a horizontal flange 131). Each of the vertical flanges is provided with an upwardly opening slot I4 and L- shaped slot l5 spaced transversely of the flange Hat and adapted to receive, respectively, pins I6 and IT which are secured to and extend inwardly from each of the end members 3. The L-shaped slot l5 has a horizontal portion Him and a vertical portion I5b, the latter portion having a downwardly extending opening.

A latch I8 is secured to each of the panel frame end members l3 in such position as to engage the pin I6 which fits into the slot H. The latch is urged to the operative position shown in Figure 2 by means of a spring l9 wound around a pin 20 which extends through an opening in the latch and is secured to the vertical flange l3a. One leg 19a of the spring is inserted in a slot 2| in the latch and the other leg I91) rests against the horizontal flange I3b at 22. The angle member I3 is provided with a slot 23 through which a portion of the latch extends to form an extension or handle 24 which lies below the glass plate II and is accessible from below the panel to release the latch from the pin Hi.

In order to give access to the interior of the fixture, the light control panel II] can be swung to the open position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 by releasing the latches I8 from the two pins 16 so as to allow the panel to pivot on the pins H. A feature of the invention is the provision of the L-shaped slots l5 for allowing this swinging movement of the panel. Enough clearance is allowed between the ends 9a and 9b of the side frames 9 and the sides Ila and lZb of the panel frame to allow the side IZb to drop slightly below the end 9b. Upon opening the panel further, the slot 15a moves to the left relative to the pin l1, thereby providing further clearance between the parts 9a and [2a for swinging the panel to its vertical position. When the panel 3 is in its vertical position, the slot l5a is in a vertical position and the pin I1 is in the top of the slot l5a so that the panel cannot be accidentally displaced from the pins l1. Thus the provision of the L-shaped slot [5 insures clearance for the panel in swinging it to open position and provides a safety feature which prevents the panel when in vertical'positionfrom being accidentallyjarred from the pin N.

If it is desired to entirely remove the panel it is first swung to its vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. It is then raised-sothatthe pin I! moves downwardly in the slot l5a to the juncture of the slot [5b, after which the panel is moved bodily to the left while'stillmaintaining it in a vertical position, which causes the pin to move out of the slot I52) and;relea,sesthe;lpanel When it is desired to replace the panel in opera-V tive position, the reversesteps are employed so as to first pivot the panel on the pins IT and thereafterthe panel is-swung-aboutthe-pivots toa the closed position imw-hich the latches l8 secure the pi-ns-Jfi inthe slots I l-. The latches operate automatically tosecure the-pins since as thepanel israised-andthe pinscome 'intocontact-with the sloping upper portions I-8aofthe -latches they move the latches-to the right frornthe position shown in- Figure 2, thereby allowing the pins todrop into the bottomof theslots, after-.which'the spring-s move the-latches to" lock-ing positiorn- It will beseenthat by the arrangement described, the light controlpanel" iil can be-quickly swung-*toopenposition and retained safely in that position, orit can be entirely-removed from thefixture in order togive accessto the interior of the fixture; Likewise, the panel can be quicklyreplaced in operative position:

Furthermore, since-pins 1 Hand ll are-symmet rically-spaced-on end member 3 and s1otsl4 and I 5 are symmetrically-spacedon end members I 3,- it is-possible to reversethe whole light'control panel and thus" pivot from theoppositeside of the lighting fixture:

The invention is not' limited to the-"preerred embodiment but maybe otherwise embodied or practiced-within the scope of the followingcla-ims;

1. In a lighting" fixturehaving an* elongated base with transverse endmembers extending downwardlytherefrom; a source'of illumination carried by thebase; an enclosure having-a longi-- tudinal" opening belowthe source ofilluminatioir and extending substantially the'f ull-length of the fixture, and-a light control panellocated-in" said opening, means for detachablysup'porting saidpanelcomprising two pins securedto andextendinginwardly fromand spaced-transversely of' each'of said end-members, apanel frame including vertical end-fianges, each flange having-upper and lower edges-and being --provided--witha slot opening upwardly through the upper edge thereof,- and a slotopening downwardly. through the l lower edge thereof for receiving said pins, and latches mounted on-saidpanel frame, said-latches each having a member-adaptedonmovement of thelatch toextend-- rigidly across the upwardly opening slots above the'pins whenthey-are in. position in the slots, said members'also engaging atleasttheupper surface of the pinswwhen the. panel isinlpositionr 2. In a lighting fixture having an elongated base with transverse end members extending downwardly therefrom, a source ofv illuminationcarried by the base, an enclosure having allongitudinal openingbelowllthe source .otilluminationx 4 and extending substantially the full length of the fixture, and a light control panel located in said opening, means for detachably supporting said panel comprising two pins secured to and extending inwardly from' and spaced transversely of each of said end members, a panel frame including verticalend'fianges,,eachjgflange having upper and lower edges and being-provided with a slot opening upwardly through the upper edge thereof-,-: and a slot opening downwardly through the carried by theibase, :an-:.enclosure:-ha:zing: a'llongi-q, tudinal opening below-zthevsourcelofj illumination; and ,extending;substantially::the; fuIllength; ofi'i the; fixture; and-a: light control: panel ,locatedl'in' said opening, meanmfon detachably supporting said, panel comprising ttwotpinsl-tsecured' toland' extendinginwardlyafrom; and spacedt'ransversely of: each ,of;'saida;endimembersp a; panel .frameg includingvertical; end... fianges, each; flange; hav-..

ing. upper. and: lower .aedgesi and being, provided.

withwa sloth opening; upwardly. throughtthesupper edge thereof, and; an: Leshaped sl'ot for: receiving said pins; said.:LI-shaped s1ot:having a:..down

wardly extending; opening,v and latches mounted on said panelframe,- saidl'latches eachhaving a member adapted on movement of the latch to:

extend rigidly -.across the upwardly, opening slots above. the pins when theytarelinx position in the slots, said members also engaging; atwleast the upper surface ofs'thel-pins when the panel: isin position.

4. In a, lighting fixture having an elongated base with: transversei== endz; members extending downwardly therefrom; a source: of; illumination carried by the base, an enclosure having. a-z-longitudinal opening:belowathesource of illumination and extending;substantially 'thelfulli length of the fixture, anda a :li ht-controlk panel located in said opening, means for det'achably, supporting said panel comprisingotwo pins securedgto and extending inwardly- 1from and spaced transversely of eachof said -end members, a panel frame including. vertical end -fl'anges each flangei having upperliand lowenedgesrprovided. withla slot open.-

ing upwardly: through; tbsp-upperedge: thereof, and an L-sha'ped': slot for: receiving said pins,

said L-shaped slot having: a downwardly extends-H ing opening, and -latc'h'es mounted on said panel: frame, saidinlatchesk each.- having: a. member) adapted: on movementzof the latchto. extend rigidly' across the upwardly opening: slots above the pinswhenstheycare in. position in the slots,

said members=alsolengaging at least the upper surface-of the pins'ewhen the panel is'in position,

saidop'anel frame: having an opening through.

whichla -portion of said. latch extends, and an operating handle lying below said panel..

5. A detachable; panel: for a; lighting fixture,

which fixturemincludes an elongated base with transverse: endmembers extending downwardly therefrom,.eachnend member having two pins; secured. theretol and; spaced transversely thereof and extending-inwardlytherefrom. a source of illumination; carried by1.the. -base; and an enclosure having an opening below the source of illumination into which opening said detachable panel is adapted to fit, said detachable panel comprising a panel frame including vertical end flanges having upper and lower edges and being provided with a slot opening upwardly through the upper edge thereof, and an L-shaped slot for receiving said pins, said L-shaped slot having a downwardly extending opening, and latches mounted on said panel frame, said latches each having a, member adapted on movement of the latch to extend rigidly across the upwardly opening slots above the pins when they are in position in the slots, said members also engaging at least the upper surface of the pins when the panel is in position, said latch having an operating handle extending below said panel.

WALTER W. STUBBS.

6 REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,028,453 Hoffman Jan. 21, 1936 2,283,782 Ashley et a1. May 19, 1942 2,327,230 Weber Aug. 17, 1943 2,327,552 Poehling Aug. 24, 1943 2,365,614 Winkler Dec. 19, 1944 2,431,656 Barker Nov. 25, 1947 2,440,603 Guth Apr. 2'7, 1948 2,490,191 Baker Dec. 6, 1949 

